Rookie of the Year Watch: February 19

Every year, many freshmen try to break their way onto the field, attempting to beat out more experienced upperclassmen and get playing time. Some of the top freshmen in the country have already made their mark, and as the year goes on, more and more of them can be important to their respective teams.

This first list of the season will more be based on preseason predictions than performances thus far, but will change as the season goes on.

1. Taylor Cummings, Maryland, Midfield
It seems every year, Maryland has a freshman that is an offensive juggernaut, and Cummings fits that mold easily. The highest-touted rookie coming in this season with her tremendous speed and scoring abilities, Cummings put on a show at the Carrier Dome on Sunday, scoring five goals and grabbing six draw controls against Syracuse. Maryland will be depending on her for a lot this season, and if she puts up numbers like there on a consistent basis, she will easily be the top freshman in the country.

2. Kayla Treanor, Syracuse, Attack
Syracuse brought in the number-one recruiting class in the country this past year, led by Kayla Treanor. Treanor, who came in as one of the top-rated middies in the H.S. Class of 2013, has been playing attack and already has seven goals in two games, leading the team with five goals against Jacksonville in the absence of Michelle Tumolo. The proof she will be a star? In January’s game against team USA, the reigning world champion, Treanor was one of three Syracuse players to score, and she netted five goals.

3. Dené DeMartino, Johns Hopkins, Midfield
Johns Hopkins is a popular dark horse pick this season, and the Blue Jays will get a lot of help from their rookie midfielder Dené DeMartino. DeMartino earned a starting spot for the season opener against Old Dominion and fired away on goal, netting two scores and grabbing four draw controls. She took eight shots, so it appeared that the offense will have DeMartino get a lot of opportunities.

4. Stephanie Peragallo, Notre Dame, Defense
After defending some of the top high school players in the country in specialty and high school games, there was no doubt Peragallo would start for Notre Dame’s defense in her freshman year. She is a strong shutdown defender that can adapt to a fast break or a set defense. In her first game, she scooped four ground balls and cause two turnovers, helping the Fighting Irish comeback and defeat Stanford.

5. Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, Attack
Etchison came off of the Georgetown bench in the team’s opener against Delaware and tied the Hoyas for the most points with four, including a pair of goals and assists each, so we will see how long she stays off the starting lineup. Etchison is a proven winner, being an integral part of a McDonogh team that was ranked the best in the country for years, and the Hoyas are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

6/7. Maddy Acton, Duke, Attack/Kelci Smesko, Duke, Midfield
Routinely Duke has a lot of weapons on offense, and after three games the Blue Devils are averaging over 19 goals per game. A pair of freshmen, Maddy Acton and Kelci Smesko, have already been factors early. Both provide and different kind of play for the team: Acton, who scored 160 points her senior year in high school, is the team’s best scorer off the bench with seven goals, while Smesko, a two-time high school All-American, has already tallied 11 points in four games with five goals and six assists.

8. Alex Bruno, Princeton, Attack
Bruno was one of the top high school players in the country last season, scoring 136 points, including 93 goals, as a senior at Garden City High. She comes onto a Princeton team that returns a lot of starters from last year, but Bruno can find her way in, she is a smart player that moves very well on the field. Princeton has not played a game yet, opening against Villanova on February 23rd.

9. Molly Wolf, Loyola, Goalie
It is rare for a coach to trust the cage’s defense to a freshman, but Jen Adams has called upon Molly Wolf to stand between the pipes this season. She had a great first game with 11 saves against Virginia, and although Loyola lost by one, it is a very strong collegiate debut. Wolf was a three-time All-America in high school, and will have a lot of games against strong competition with Loyola’s schedule.

10. Halle Majorana, Maryland, Attack
One of the top attacks in high school play last season resides in Maryland’s offense, and though Cummings will get most of the attention of the rookies, Majorana is a solid player in her own right. She is a solid player with or without possession, making her a threat to score or grab the loose ball. The three-time high school All-American attack may not get huge numbers, she has three goals in two games, but her talent is there to be on this list.